ree were quite
unmanageable. McShane, Joey, and the courier, at last drew him clear
from the track; they jumped into their places, and away they started
again like the wind, for the horses were maddened with fear. The whole
pack of wolves was not one hundred yards from them when they recommenced
their speed, and even then McShane considered that there was no hope.
But the horse that was left on the road proved their salvation; the
starved animals darted upon it, piling themselves one on the other,
snarling and tearing each other in their conflict for the feast. It was
soon over; in the course of three minutes the carcass had disappeared,
and the major portion of the pack renewed their pursuit; but the
carriage had proceeded too far ahead of them, and their speed being now
uninterrupted, they gained the next village, and O'Donahue had the
satisfaction of leading his terrified bride into the chamber of the
post-house, where she fainted as soon as she was placed in a chair.

"I'll tell you what, Joey, I've had enough of wolves for all my life,"
said McShane; "and Joey, my boy, you're a good shot in the first place,
and a brave little fellow in the next; here's a handful of roubles, as
they call them, for you to buy lollipops with, but I don't think you'll
find a shop that sells them hereabouts. Never mind, keep your sweet
tooth till you get to old England again; and after I tell Mrs McShane
what you have done for us this day, she will allow you to walk into a
leg of beef, or round a leg of mutton, or dive into a beefsteak pie, as
long as you live, whether it be one hundred years more or less. I've
said it, and don't you forget it; and now, as the wolves have not made
their supper upon us, let us go and see what we can sup upon ourselves."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

RETURN TO ENGLAND.

The remainder of the journey was completed without any further
adventure, and they at last found themselves out of the Russian
dominions, when they were met by the uncle of the princess, who, as a
Pole, was not sorry that his niece had escaped from being wedded to a
Russian. He warmly greeted O'Donahue, as his connection, and
immediately exerted all the interest which he had at the court to pacify
the emperor. When the affair first became known, which it soon did, by
the princess not returning to court, his Majesty was anything but
pleased at being outwitted; but the persuasions of the empress, the
pleading of the English ambassador, w